Neoclassicism · English Literature

Samuel Johnson’s 'Dictionary of the English Language' (1755) reflected Neoclassical values by attempting to:

  1. Standardize and stabilize the language
  2. Introduce as many foreign loanwords as possible
  3. Encourage the use of regional dialects in formal writing
  4. Replace words with mathematical symbols
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Correct answer: Standardize and stabilize the language

Johnson's goal was to bring order to the 'copious' and 'unsettled' English language. This desire for standardization, clarity, and authority is a hallmark of the Neoclassical intellectual climate.

Difficulty: Medium Question 13 of 20

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